Renaming the Baseball Field

By Harry M. Covert

It’s a bit premature to consider renaming Alexandria’s Braddock Road baseball field, adjacent to George Washington Middle School.

Apparently city people think it’s time to honor the late community activist Lenny Harris. Harris had been reported missing in November 2011. His body was found in Maryland in January 2012.

Harris is not to be confused with a former major league baseball player of the same name who is still alive and had played a short time for the Washington Nationals.

The middle school on Mount Vernon Avenue was formerly a public high school of achievement. One of its most prominent sports figures is Harley “Skeeter” Swift. Skeeter’s prowess mesmerized the sports community back in the 60s. The city native went on to national recognition as a star basketball player. He is one of two local athletes who became a professional basketball player.  His name should be on either the middle school or T.C. Williams basketball courts.

Skeeter got everyone’s attention when he drop-kicked a football field goal for GW High School and also is known for drop-kicking a basketball from half-court.

A Hall of Famer at his alma mater East Tennessee State,  he put the university on the collegiate map. In the pros he played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) now merged with the NBA.

There are some other candidates who should be considered in the renaming of the Braddock Road field.

At the risk of sounding flippant, even saints wait longer than two years to be honored and the same should hold true in Alexandria.

Here are some other names to seriously consider for their athletic abilities, municipal achievements community contributions:

Nancy Dunning, beloved businesswoman and queen of the Del Ray community. She was found dead in her home Dec. 5, 2003. Her contributions to Alexandria are legendary. She was wife of the late Jim Dunning, the city sheriff at the time of her unsolved murder.

Charles W. Hill, Alexandria police officer shot and killed in the line duty , March 22, 1989. He was a dedicated 13-year veteran, husband and father of two.

Gerald R. Ford, for years a city resident before becoming the nation’s 40th vice president and 38th President. He was an outstanding college football player.

Florence Contee, late community activist and Christian counselor at the Charles Houston Recreation Center and the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center, Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.

James Colasanto, Alexandria general district court judge, killed in 1970 at his Russell Road home by a grudge-holding gunman.  The judge had dismissed a complaint five years earlier that the suspect had brought about his neighbors dogs.

Crandal Mackey, the shotgun-toting Commonwealth’s Attorney who single-handedly cleaned up Alexandria’s bars, bordellos and casinos in 1903 and made Del Ray a livable community hometown.

Joshua Weissman, Alexandria paramedic who died February 2012 in the line of duty, responding to a car fire. He was 33 and a seven-year veteran of the fire department.

Certainly there are others to be considered.